Two Belgian firefighters died while battling a building fire over the weekend.
The blaze erupted at about 2 a.m. Sunday in Beringen in Limburg, and crews evacuated the building because of combustible gases that increased the risk of explosion, The Brussels Times reports. The bodies of the firefighters were found in the building after part of the structure collapsed.
“These were two volunteers, two young fathers,” Commander Bert Swijsen of the south-west Limburg zone told the Times. “They had enough experience, but sadly there is always a risk. It’s hard to come to terms with the fact they are no longer with us. They were two friendly guys, both part of a larger group of friends. This is a dark day for our service.”
On Monday, the Brussels fire service held a moment of silence for the fallen firefighters.
"This incident shows once again the risk that firefighters run every day to protect their fellow citizens," a fire service spokesman told the Times. "The families of the victims and our colleagues in Limburg can count on our unconditional support. We also wish the injured firefighters a speedy recovery.”
